Four charged over violent disorder incident

Two men and two women have been charged with a number of offences related to a violent disorder incident which took place in December of last year.

Winnie Ward (44), Gerry Ward (19) and Joe Ward (45), all with addresses at Blackberry Lane, Athlone, along with a female minor who cannot be named due to her age, all appeared before Judge Bernadette Owens at a sitting of Athlone District Court.

Winnie Ward was charged with engaging in violent disorder with two women and four men at an address at Blackberry Lane on December 21 of last year.

Gerry Ward was charged with involvement in the same violent disorder, and possession of an axe during the same alleged incident. A third charge of violent disorder relating to December 20 of last year was also brought against him, again at an address on Blackberry Lane, alongside two women and four men.

Joe Ward was charged with being involved in both violent disorder incidents on 20 and 21 December of last year.

Meanwhile, the female teenager was charged with criminal damage to the windows of a property at Blackberry Lane on December 21 of last year, with possession of a sledge hammer at the same location and on the same date, and with possession of a long stick on December 20, also at Blackberry Lane.

Garda Johnny Noone gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution of each of the four defendants on September 16 last.

DPP directions for Winnie, Gerry and Joe Ward were summary disposal on guilty pleas only, and all three were remanded on bail on their own bonds of €200 with the conditions that they have no contact with the injured parties, that they do not enter the address of the alleged offences, that they abide by a curfew of 10pm to 7pm, stay off social media and sign on at Athlone Garda Station on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

Directions for all charges against the juvenile defendant were summary disposal. She was also remanded on bail on her own bond of €100 with similar conditions to her co-accused. However, she does not have a curfew and has been directed to sign on once a week at Roscommon Garda Station.

All four will reappear before Athlone District Court on October 7.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme